If you are thinking about moving to a rural area, you will need to know the importance of planning. There are many things that can go wrong if you don’t plan ahead. It’s often difficult to get help when you need it in rural areas of the country. Here are several reasons why the importance of planning is so important when you move to a rural area.
- Services are often limited
- There are usually no close neighbors to rely on
- Help can be far away
- Cell service may be limited
- Weather can be brutal
Limited Services – Why Being Prepared Is Important
Services are often limited when you live in the middle of nowhere. When you live in a rural area, you can’t always count on having easy access to services like grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, vets, and medical services.
This is why it’s important to plan ahead and make sure you have everything you need before you need it.
Recently my laptop was acting up and instead of waiting for it to totally break down, I purchased a new one when I was in the bigger nearby town 2 hours away. I didn’t want to lose time with my business if I waited til I really needed it.
Besides, I would have been in a panic as I work from home on the computer.
However, without proper planning on essential supplies, you might find yourself stranded without food or gas.
Trip Planning
With the high cost of fuel these days, the importance of planning your road trips out in advance is imperative. For example, we have no pharmacy in our little town. We have to drive an hour away to pick up medicines or have them delivered.
Yesterday, I received the wrong medication. (I switched drugstores today.) Now, I have to check the weather for severe thunderstorms tomorrow and decide when it will be the best time of day to go for the 2 hour ride back and forth to pick up the correct medication.
Not only that, but do we need anything else in the large town an hour away? I don’t want to waste time or gas money for the one trip. So the importance of planning for these types of things cannot be stressed enough.
Important of Planning With No Close Neighbors
There are usually no close neighbors to rely on. In a rural area, your closest neighbor might be miles away. This can be a problem if you have an emergency and need help right away.
That’s why it’s so important to have a plan for what you would do in case of an emergency.
Who would you call? How would you get help? It’s also a good idea to get to know your neighbors so you can count on them in a pinch.
Also, find out the nearest walk-in center or emergency room and Triple-A station if your car breaks down.
My husband can fix anything but when he’s at work he is unreachable by phone. So, when I had a flat tire I called Triple A. I was pleasantly surprised to find a station in our area. However, many rural areas may not have one nearby.
Another time I got stuck an hour away and my cell phone battery was almost dead. So be sure to have that fully charged before heading out or carry an extra battery for it.
The Importance of Planning For No Cell Phone Service
If you live in a rural area, there’s also a good chance that you won’t always have cell service. This can be frustrating if you’re trying to get directions or if you need to make a phone call but can’t because there’s no signal.
To avoid being stranded without any way to communicate, it’s important to always have a physical map on hand.
Not only that but an have an emergency radio so that you can stay up-to-date on what’s going on even when there’s no cell service. Some folks who know the importance of planning purchase a satellite phone.
Help Often Far Away
If something goes wrong in a rural area, it might take longer for help to arrive than it would in a more populated area. That’s why it’s important to have a plan for how you would deal with an emergency situation until help arrives.
The old saying that accidents happen is true as I can tell you from experience. This was one before we moved in full-time to our northern New England rural area. After that, we had 2 moose hit the truck as well.
We were very lucky that we had cell service at the time of them. Just a few miles further and there would have been no cell service to call for help.
Again, knowing your neighbors and having a good relationship with them can be helpful in any type of situation. They might be able to provide assistance or at least keep an eye on your property or pet until help arrives.
Planning For Extreme Weather
Another thing to take into account when you live in a rural area is the weather. Because you’re not close to any major cities, you’re more likely to experience extreme weather conditions like blizzards, hurricanes, or forest fires.
This is why it’s so important to have an emergency kit stocked with food, water, and other supplies in case you get stranded due to bad weather. The importance of planning for bad weather cannot be stressed enough for you and your pets.
Oftentimes, we see people who come to visit and do not have the proper clothing to withstand such low temperatures. More people die from freezing to death than from the heat.
Other areas of the country have to be prepared for tornados, hurricanes, or earthquakes. Each has its own emergencies to plan for.
This past summer we have had flooding and bad thunderstorms in our areas. So even with other weather conditions your area may not always have they happen every few decades leaving many people unprepared.
Your Turn – Important Of Planning In Rural Towns
What is the importance of planning mean to you moving to a rural area? I’d love to hear from others who live in a rural area and how they plan in advance for living there. Please leave a comment in the comment section below.
